Police confirm 'gunman' had child's toy at match

Police investigating a man armed with what looked like a rifle pitchside at an under-10s football match have confirmed it was a child's toy.

West Mercia police pursued a number of lines of inquiry after the man appeared at Ledbury Rugby Club in Herefordshire before walking off into nearby woods on 8 March.

The force said it had been working with the football club to identify the family involved. The family spoke with officers and the toy had been seized, it said.

Chief Inspector Ross Jones said: "We would like to thank those who brought this to our attention and reassure our communities that there was no risk of harm."

He said: "We can confirm that what was believed to be a firearm seen at Ledbury RFC on Saturday was a child's toy.

"Officers carried out a number of enquiries and have been working with the football club, to identify the family involved."

The match was suspended for about 70 minutes, with the children taken away from the pitch.

Previously speaking to the BBC, referee Nick Fish said the incident was scary for those who saw the man, who appeared from the image - taken by a parent - to be pointing the device as he looked down its barrel.

"I don't understand people's mentality of doing that at a football match," he said.

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